Back-to-school season means getting ready for a year's worth of lunches, and you need cool gear to carry and protect those sandwiches and snacks. But you also want to keep food safe and be Earth-friendly. So we went looking for fun practical containers, lunch bags and other accessories that are kid friendly, but also reusable and free of BPA.

PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag: It all starts with how you carry your lunch, and this collapsible bag keeps food cold for up to 10 hours. The bag has freezer gel packs built into its sides, and folds down to freeze overnight. It comes in basic black, but also whimsical designs. $19.95, from Storables and Fred Meyer.

Kid Konserve reusable wrap from Food Kozy: School lunches often are sandwiches, and plastic wrap, foil or plastic sandwich bags head to the landfill after just one use. But these reusable wraps can be hand-washed and used over and over. The BPA-free plastic sheets get folded over a sandwich burrito-style, and strips of Velcro keep the sandwich fresh until it's time to eat. It's perfect for carrying wraps, too. $7.95 for a set of two, from Storables.

Small bento box from Sistema: This colorful, BPA-free container has two separate compartments, that are perfect for keeping moist foods like sliced cheese and carrots from drying out, while keeping crackers and pretzels crisp and dry. The snap-lock lid maintains a solid seal, but isn't too difficult for little hands to open (something we found with the lids of some reusable lunch containers). $3.99, from Fred Meyer.

Cool lunchbox essentials for back to schoolIt's back-to-school time, which means it's time to gear up for school lunches. Grant Butler shows off some of the best lunchbox essentials, including BPA-free sandwich wraps, snack containers and microwavable dishes.

Food Movers' Smash snack box: Because some school lunch times start in the late-morning, some kids need to pack a mid-afternoon snack. This bright, BPA-free box is perfect for baby carrots, pita chips or sliced fruit. $3.95 from Storables.

Dressing containers from Sistema: This is our favorite find of all of this lunchbox gear. Each BPA-free container has room for 1-1/2 tablespoons of salad dressing, salsa, peanut butter, hummus or ranch dip, which is the perfect size for dressing for a lunchtime salad, or dip to go with an afternoon snack of pretzel sticks, pita chips or baby carrots. $4.95 for a set of four, from Storables.

Noodle bowl from Sistema: Macaroni and cheese, pasta salad or leftover casseroles won't mess up your lunch bag thanks to the liquid-proof lid that snaps into place. The BPA-free bowl can be microwaved, and has a pop-up vent to let out steam. The plastic handle means hands won't get scorched. This is perfect for high schoolers with access to microwave ovens. $6.99, from Fred Meyer.

Reusable cloth napkins from Eco Lunchbox: This Earth-friendly alternative to paper napkins is made out of 100-percent cotton that's been hand-printed using ancient wood-block patterns by Indian artisans who are paid fair wages. The 16- by 12-inch napkins are machine washable and can be used over and over again. $8.95 for a set of two, from Storables.

Bamboo utensils: While most plastic utensils can be put in the dishwasher and used repeatedly, these Earth-friendly versions are made out of sustainable bamboo. They're good for repeat use with hand-washing, and they are just the right size for small hands. The knife isn't sharp, and is perfect for spreading peanut butter, hummus or soft cheese. $1.50 to $2.25 each, from Uwajimaya.